Published: Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 7:38 p.m.

Pardee Hospital Foundation named Don Holder as its Health Care Philanthropist of the Year and Dr. Ken Shelton as its Health Care Physician of the Year during an annual donor recognition event at Blue Ridge Community College Saturday.

The foundation's board of directors presents the Philanthropist of the Year award to a member of the community who has made an outstanding contribution to Pardee Hospital, the Pardee Hospital Foundation and for the improvement of the community's health care.

The inaugural Physician of the Year award is designed to recognize a physician at Pardee whose career has been defined by medical excellence, dedication to compassionate care and a commitment to improving the lives of countless people throughout the community.

Philanthropist of the Year

Holder has been an active member of the Hendersonville community for more than 30 years. Along with founding and serving as president of Four Seasons Financial Services Inc., he has volunteered for a litany of organizations in the area.

Holder has been a long-time active member of Pardee Hospital's Board of Trustees, including three-term president, founding president and chairman of the Pardee Hospital Foundation and Pardee Urgent Care board member.

Outside of the Pardee family, Holder has received recognition from various organizations, including the 2010 recipient of the Clifton Shipman award from the Hendersonville Merchants and Business association. He has also received the Layperson of the Year, Hyatt Award and the Legion of Honor Distinction, all associated with Kiwanis International.

Holder has been instrumental in the American Cancer Society in the area, and has served on boards for the United Way of Henderson County, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau of Western NC, Housing Assistance Corp, the Henderson County Economic Development Commission, among others organizations.

Physician of the Year

Shelton has served with Pardee Hospital since 1987, with the Hendersonville Radiological services office. He has served as the vice chief and chief of staff at Pardee Hospital.

Shelton is also a well-known advocate of biking and walking as legitimate forms of transportation. He has worked with the local government to consider expansion of biker-friendly roads within the region, and educating the public on alternative transportation methods. He has also pioneered anti smoking programs for youth and teens.

Shelton was instrumental in bringing the New Zealand Olympic Swim Team to Hendersonville for a two-week training camp before the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Nominations for the award were submitted by the public, with individuals writing letters on behalf of the candidate highlighting personal character along with the personal and professional activities of the nominee.

Nominees were then evaluated on qualities within the categories of clinical care, teaching and education, research and scholarship, medical society service, health promotion and disease prevention, services to allied health professions, community service and philanthropic activity. The award was presented by the Pardee Hospital Foundation, in collaboration with First Citizens Bank.

The Judging committee is comprised of the Pardee's chief medical officer, Pardee's chief of staff, physician

member of the Pardee Foundation Board, First Citizens Bank representative and the executive director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation.

For more information or to find a physician, call 1-866-790-WELL (9355) or visit www.pardeehospital.org.

<p>Pardee Hospital Foundation named Don Holder as its Health Care Philanthropist of the Year and Dr. Ken Shelton as its Health Care Physician of the Year during an annual donor recognition event at Blue Ridge Community College Saturday.</p><p>The foundation's board of directors presents the Philanthropist of the Year award to a member of the community who has made an outstanding contribution to Pardee Hospital, the Pardee Hospital Foundation and for the improvement of the community's health care.</p><p>Past winners of this award include Bob and Doris Eklund, Colin Thomas, M.D., Grace Vineyard, Phillip Sellers, M.D, Dot Marlow, Kenneth Youngblood and Eleanora Meloun.</p><p>The inaugural Physician of the Year award is designed to recognize a physician at Pardee whose career has been defined by medical excellence, dedication to compassionate care and a commitment to improving the lives of countless people throughout the community.</p><p><b>Philanthropist of the Year</b></p><p>Holder has been an active member of the Hendersonville community for more than 30 years. Along with founding and serving as president of Four Seasons Financial Services Inc., he has volunteered for a litany of organizations in the area.</p><p>Holder has been a long-time active member of Pardee Hospital's Board of Trustees, including three-term president, founding president and chairman of the Pardee Hospital Foundation and Pardee Urgent Care board member.</p><p>Outside of the Pardee family, Holder has received recognition from various organizations, including the 2010 recipient of the Clifton Shipman award from the Hendersonville Merchants and Business association. He has also received the Layperson of the Year, Hyatt Award and the Legion of Honor Distinction, all associated with Kiwanis International.</p><p>Holder has been instrumental in the American Cancer Society in the area, and has served on boards for the United Way of Henderson County, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau of Western NC, Housing Assistance Corp, the Henderson County Economic Development Commission, among others organizations.</p><p><b>Physician of the Year</b></p><p>Shelton has served with Pardee Hospital since 1987, with the Hendersonville Radiological services office. He has served as the vice chief and chief of staff at Pardee Hospital.</p><p>Shelton is also a well-known advocate of biking and walking as legitimate forms of transportation. He has worked with the local government to consider expansion of biker-friendly roads within the region, and educating the public on alternative transportation methods. He has also pioneered anti smoking programs for youth and teens.</p><p>Shelton was instrumental in bringing the New Zealand Olympic Swim Team to Hendersonville for a two-week training camp before the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.</p><p>Nominations for the award were submitted by the public, with individuals writing letters on behalf of the candidate highlighting personal character along with the personal and professional activities of the nominee.</p><p>Nominees were then evaluated on qualities within the categories of clinical care, teaching and education, research and scholarship, medical society service, health promotion and disease prevention, services to allied health professions, community service and philanthropic activity. The award was presented by the Pardee Hospital Foundation, in collaboration with First Citizens Bank.</p><p>The Judging committee is comprised of the Pardee's chief medical officer, Pardee's chief of staff, physician</p><p>member of the Pardee Foundation Board, First Citizens Bank representative and the executive director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation.</p><p>For more information or to find a physician, call 1-866-790-WELL (9355) or visit www.pardeehospital.org.</p>